Kids scarfing beets like candy bars? Sal Valenza, regional director of food services for Nu-Way Concessionaires at West New York School District in New Jersey, doubted it was possible. But a great partner helped pave the way.
When the district teamed up with a farm-fresh distributor to bring more New Jersey produce into schools, the company coupled the new food with educational programming to get more student buy-in. The distributor brought farmers into classrooms to introduce the different produce, arranged farm visits, and helped launch an annual Harvest Week, among other efforts.
The result: Kids now beeline for beets and other previously unfamiliar veggies at lunch, driving program participation and revenue. “We get [the beets] in, roast them, and they’re gone in our cafeteria,” Valenza says. “Anytime I can get the kids to know what the food is before they get to the line, there’s more consumption.”
West New York’s relationship with the distributor is “a strong partnership,” Valenza says. “It’s definitely more than just food.” In a marketplace where the variety of vendors is seemingly endless, FSDs are coming to expect more from these suppliers and distributors, including recipes, support, presentations, connections and industry intel.